It turned out the hall I had tried to enter wasn’t a hall at all, but a courtyard. Ornate pillars lined the outside, holding up a stone roof around most of it, but the center was open to a brilliant night sky. Shining down on the interior was a brilliant full moon. However, none of that held my attention for long. That was reserved for the creature lounging in the center of the courtyard. “Took you long enough to show up, Saol.”

Today was just getting worse it seemed. “So, this is your doing then, Core.” I kept my guard up, whatever this place was. Since the Core was here, I was in her dungeon, somewhere. She rose from where she had been lounging and approached me.

“You are mistaken, Saol. This isn’t my dungeon.” She kept approaching, calmly, almost as if bored, although I had almost killed her before. I couldn’t tell if she was reckless or just confident. Well, nothing to it. I had fought her to a draw before I could do so again.

However, nothing happened when I lifted my arm to lance her. I tried teleporting closer, so I could transform my arm and strike at her. Nothing. I tried to take a step back, only to hit a wall. “You might as well give up any thoughts on escape or resistance, Saol. You’re in my domain now and here I make all the rules.”

I gritted my teeth. “Your domain? You fancy yourself a goddess or something?” To my surprise, she smiled. “I don’t fancy myself one, Saol.” She rose and flexed her wings. Then the moon vanished, replaced with a midday sun. “Because of certain circumstances, I am one.”

The deadpan way she delivered that sent chills down my spine. There was no delusion there, no elation or anything. The way she said it was as pedestrian as if she commented on the weather. As if to dispel my lingering doubts, she spread her wings, and I saw… I SAW!

Infinity, an endless space that kept increasing the longer I watched, stars, nebulas, entire star clusters and galaxies. Terms I didn’t understand, yet did. The knowledge flooded my mind as I stared into the infinite impossibility her wings had become. Then, just as sudden as this startling truth had been revealed to me, her wings became mundane. “That removed all your doubts, Saol.”

It did. There was no way a regular sphinx could do anything of the sort. “So, are you going to kill me now?” My voice sounded bitter in my ears. Much to my surprise, she closed her eyes for a second. “I can’t kill that which is already dead, Saol. You died in that basement when you finished your labor for the “Butterflies” you were so fond of. Writing out the runes to unseal the Void with your own blood was the cause. Besides, I do not hold a grudge against you, not anymore. Time has given me a more… open perspective on many events and allowed me to reflect on many things.” So I was dead? Wait, how did she know about-?

Realization was quick to follow. She had read my mind. She sat down and as she gazed down at me, there was something else there aside from indifference. Pity? “Indeed, I have read your mind, Saol, and it has given me insight into many things that have so far eluded me. Many a mystery has now been laid bare, and it will be to your benefit when you go to your final judgment.”

Go to my final judgment? I was so infused with void energy the gods wouldn’t even touch me. How could I be judged for anything but oblivion? The sphinx-turned-goddess rose and took two steps towards me, towering over me in a way that made me feel insignificant and small. “The void energies have already been removed from your spirit, Saol. Mahiba saw to that when you encountered her in the entrance chamber.”

I had been purged? “But that’s impossible. I was tied to the Void. If the energies were purged, I would have been-” The sphinx held up a paw, silencing me. “Saol, you are indeed tied to the Void. Which is why you wound up here when Mordred banished you, rather than the archipelago you have spent the last century on as a broken, mad spirit.”

What? What did she mean by that? “I am Labyrinthia. Mortals know me as the goddess of Dungeons, Innovation, Prophesy, Dreams and Dimensions. What the mortals do not know is that I have another portfolio as well, one that developed naturally as time passed. One that I gained because of my own actions in the conflict that followed our last encounter.”

She looked down at me and this time her voice emanated from everywhere around me, so powerful the world lost its focus while she spoke. “I am Labyrinthia, Goddess of the Void. What you are standing in, is a piece of the Void I have made my personal domain. The Void, as you know it, no longer exists, though Void Magic does. However, thanks to you, I now know why, if now how.”

My confused expression seemed to pull her out of her musings. “Never mind my ramblings, Saol. Puzzling over them won’t do you any good. Know that I have purged you of the Void’s influence and your final judgment awaits. Take heart, your circumstances and actions have been weighed against your usual personality, and I doubt you will receive eternal torment. It might not be paradise, But then, you can’t expect a hero’s welcome.”

Before I could muster up a reply, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw an individual twice my height, with no discernible features outside the gray-skinned hands, and a black, hooded cloak. Death had come for me at last. “ So I see, I… I have made many mistakes in my life. And I only hope the information you have gained can help atone for some of it.” After another moment of hesitation, I turned towards Death. “I am ready.” Without a word, Death guided me away, and having been freed from my madness and delusions, I no longer saw any reason to resist.

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As I watched Saol and the specter of death vanish, Mahiba arrived through a hidden entrance to the courtyard. “You seem conflicted, my Maker.” How many times had I asked her to not call me that? It didn’t matter, not now.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t. Saol was never a good man, but some events later in his life were not a fault of his own. His proximity to a Void-stricken Inlas infected him as well, clouding his judgment and influencing his actions.” I paused and mulled over what I had learned for a few moments.

“However, that is not all. A far more important mystery has been answered. Mahiba, inform Indella of what has transpired and to place the dungeon on high alert. I need to meet with the other gods.” Without waiting for a reply, I closed my eyes, sent a message to grandfather, then dismissed my mental construct, returning to my physical form.

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As I regained my senses, the first thing I noticed was the sound of rain on against the window. “So much for the holiday, damn it.” With how things had turned out, things had taken a turn for the worse. And then there was her issue as well. Ugh, so much was happening all at once.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. I was walking a tightrope here, and even with my foresight, I couldn’t tell whether I was doing the right thing. Now I knew how aunt felt, that’s for sure. I walked over to the window, my own, human, reflection staring back at me. After all this time, it felt weird having only two legs. But, it was required for an incognito holiday. I wouldn’t get much rest if I walked into town in my true form, with mortals showering me with attention or prayers.

Even Eliandar didn’t know I was here. He knew I had requested a private house for a few days, citing personal reasons, but that was the extent of it. As for the staff, as far as they knew I was a merchant from the trade federation down south, here on a holiday. A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. “Yes?”

The door opened, and one maid stepped in. “Milady, the city’s high priest wishes to speak with you. He says it’s urgent.” So, Grandfather was already here. He was, early. That wasn’t a good sign. “Let him in, and would you be so kind as to bring some tea?”

The maid nodded and left. Shortly after, grandfather stepped in, or more exactly his avatar. “I got your message kid. What’s the matter?” Before I could answer, the door opened, and the maid stepped back in with the tea. “Thank you, Malia, that will be all.” She curtsied, then left.

As soon as the door closed, I warded it against eavesdropping. Malia had some bad habits. She was a skilled maid, but too curious for her own good. I poured each of us a cup and downed mine in a single gulp. “We have a serious problem.” Grandfather took a sip of his own cup. “How serious?” I placed the cup down. “I have found out how the Void magic persisted.” As I explained, I could see Grandfather’s expression change from shock to worry. “As you certain about this?” I turned towards him. “You can ask Salhar about it later. He should have finished judging Saol’s soul about now.”

There was the sound of cracking porcelain as Grandfather crushed the cup in his hand. “This entire situation it’s…” I shook my head. “The future is in constant flux. It’s not set in stone, but as malleable as wet clay and as much in flux as a waterfall. A single action will change it, and even I can’t see where this path leads, not with certainty. Either way, there was no way to predict this would happen.”

Grandfather looked at me. “How many times did you rehearse that speech?” He seemed calmer now. “None, it’s just my honest opinion on the matter after being able to see the future for over a century.” He didn’t seem convinced. “OK, how many times did you foresee yourself saying that?” I remained silent as I mended his cup. “Oh that? I could answer, but that would destroy the mystique, now, wouldn’t it? More tea?”

“Do we have time to just sit down like this?” Grandfather was becoming agitated again. “Preparations are already underway on my end and mobilizing everything else this soon would be pointless. Our enemy is landing on the Rindim Coast to the northwest and is dug in and well fortified.” I rose and walked over to the window.

“Keari has already encountered a vanguard, and smashed it to pieces shortly after.” Grandfather was silent for a moment. “I see. How are you planning to-?” He then stopped. “It’s not up to you.” I looked back at him. “Indeed, that choice is hers, and hers alone. And every time I try to predict it, the outcome changes. Which makes sense, given what we know.”

As we continued our discussion, the sun dipped beneath the horizon and night set in. It would be past midnight by the time Grandfather left. I, too, would need to leave soon, or I would miss a very important reunion.

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Pain, everything was pain. A burning ache that tore through every inch of my body. Far away someone was talking, so distant it was impossible to understand. Something touched my lips and liquid relief flooded from my mouth and through my body. Though it was only a short reprieve, a shield between me and the pain.

Slowly, the voices coalesced into something that could be understood. “-ly temporary. Whatever is wrong with her is beyond mortal medicine. My suggestion? Get her to the labyrinth as fast as possible and hope Lady Labyrinthia can cure her.” That sounded like, Sarirrva. Another rougher, deeper voice answered. “Easier said than done. The wagon’s mana reservoir was drained dry just getting us here and needs to be recharged, it isn’t going anywhere until it has enough charge to get us to the Labyrinth and there’s no way we’d get there on time on horseback, or dragon wing, no offense.”

“And there is no way to speed up the process?” Uncle? “Short of channeling your own mana into the damn thing? Not really, and even if that was a workable idea, I’d likely… oh. Actually, that might work. Mage-Man, come with me. It might take an hour or two, but it’s faster than the 30 it would take the reservoir to fill naturally without a charger.” I heard distant hurried footsteps.

“Dun worry Amber. Keari’ll be fine, Glu’s certain!” There was no response. “I agree with my sister, Miss Amber. Your friend seems remarkably resilient.” This final voice seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place it. I was only now realizing someone was nudging me. No, examining me? “She is stable for now, however the dragon is correct. She is likely to recover consciousness soon, and might even walk on her own accord. However, this is outside the realm of healing even what we Fae can accomplish.”

I didn’t recognize that last voice at all. Before I could contemplate further, it continued. “Envoy Rael, I owe Mordred a life debt. And it would be my greatest joy to repay it here and now by curing his niece, but it is beyond me. Instead, take the reminder of the panacea that’s left from healing me, and give her a small sip now and then. Combined with what you have left, it should, with some luck, keep her stable long enough to reach the Labyrinth. I wish I could do more than- what was that?”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Hey, Mage-Man, are you sure about this? It’s no sweat off of my brow or anything, but, it’s gonna hurt. Immortality damned, it’s gonna feel like someone stuck you with a glowing poker and twisted it.” I glanced down at Nicomphus. “That sounds, a tad too much like first-hand experience.”

Nicomphus shrugged. “Not my brightest moment, that. I almost died as the damn thing began using my life force to keep up with the insane drain. Which reminds me, I gotta talk to Lady Labyrinthia about that flaw in the charging process.”

He rose to his feet with two lines of inlaid and runed electrum. “Just channel mana into these , and it will charge her up. Don’t worry about overcharging the reservoir. Once she’s full, I’ll cut the lines. Wouldn’t do any of us any good if you overloaded the damn thing and blew up the entire fortress.”

I nodded slowly as I grabbed the cables, then began sending mana into them. There was a mild discomfort, not much. Then again, I had a massive mana pool to draw from because of my maxed out classes. The lack of actual pain didn’t surprise me either. Pain was something I hadn’t felt for so long I had almost forgotten how it felt like. “This is going fine so far.”

After about half an hour, I checked our progress. [Status] Hmm, it was draining faster than expected. At this rate, maybe I should. “Nicomphus, we have a problem.” He arched an eyebrow. “I can’t let go, and this thing has already drained almost 15000 units of mana.” Nicomphus looked at me with an expression of true emotion for the first time, shock. There was a sudden whining sound coming from the reservoir. “DON’T CUT IT!”

Nicomphus moved to cut the cables immediately. However, I used [Quick Casting] and the [Mana Drain] spell to lessen the speed of drainage and maybe, just maybe stave off complete disaster. The mana sprang from the charging cables and hit me, sending bolts of raw mana flying everywhere. “Nicomphus, once the whining stops, cut them, otherwise the wagon’s a goner.”

The racket from the draining process was insane and the scent of burnt flesh was sickening, and if it wasn’t for the sheer craftsmanship behind my gear, I had no illusions it would have survived longer than an instant. There was movement behind us. The racket must have alerted everyone in the fortress.

The entire ordeal was building up one hell of a headache and there was this annoying popping noise i my ears. Suddenly, the cables went slack, and I fell backwards into a pair of waiting arms. “That was incredibly foolish, Mordred.” I was lying on the ground, with my head in Sarirrva’s lap.

Everything felt, distant, like a layer of cotton was covering everything, hadn’t felt this way since the last time I was drunk, over a century ago. Now that I thought about it, Sarirrva was actually rather pretty. “Stop talking nonsense, Mordred.” Was she blushing? Was she reading my mind, no I was talking, wasn’t I?

Another figure moved into my line of sight. “I think he fried a few brain cells, taking in that raw mana. Given his immortality, he’ll recover soon enough. Until then, I don’t think he has a filter, nor the capacity or wherewithal to make jokes or lie.” Sarirrva was even prettier when she was blushing.

She looked down at me, her eyes slitted. “We can discuss this more when you are lucid. For now, just lie here and don’t think about anything.” That sounded like a good plan. A nap would be nice. I closed my eyes even as the strange popping sound in my ears finally stopped. Yeah, a nap would be really… nice.